Improvement in preparing fats for candle-making



UNITED STATES PATENT .OFFICE.

MORGAN W. BROlVN, OF BUFFALO, NEIV YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN PREPARING FATS FOR CANDLE-MAKING.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 18,381, dated October13, 1857.

To aZZ whom it Hwy concern:

heat applied until it boils. WVhile it is boil- Be it known that I,lVIORGAN WV. BROWN, of 1 ing I add a dilute solution of sulphuric acidthe city of Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in the Manufacture ofCandles, &c., from Animal and Vegetable Fatty and Oleaginous Bodies;andI do here by declare that the following is a full and exactdescription thereof.

The nature of my invention consists, first, in converting animal andvegetable fatty and oleaginous bodies into a soluble soap (having theproperties of a detergent or washing soap) preparatory to and for thepurpose of converting the same into candles; second, in the employmentand use of the sulphate of soda in admixture with soluble soap andbefore its decomposition or change into fatty acids, for the purpose ofeconomy, and as an auxiliary to the action of sulphuric acid in the succeedingdegree in my process; third, in a decomposition or change of thesoluble soap into the liberated fatty acids by the employment and use ofdilute sulphuric acid in admixture therewith; fourth, in the use ofspirits of turpentine, camphene, or burning -fluid in admixture with thefatty acids while in afluid state before and preparatory to theexpression of the oleic-acid oil therefrom bypressure; fifth, in theemployment and use of alcohol in admixture with stearic acic (in aliquid state) and after the stearic acid has been separated from theoleic acid, as aforesaid, by pressure, for the purpose of purifying thesame before it is molded into candles.

To enable others skilled in the art to practice my process and make anduse my invention, I will proceed to describe the same.

In the first place, I convert the raw material or crude fats into asoluble soap (having the properties of a detergent or washing soap) byany of the usual methods of producing the same. This constitutes thefirst product and first degree in my process of manufacture. I then mixa quantity of the sulphate of soda with this soluble soap, and boil thesame by steam-heat until well mixed. This is for the purpose ofobtaining a larger yield of stearic acid, and also as auxiliary to theaction of sulphuric acid used in the decomposition of the soluble soapinto fatty acids. It is then discharged into the separating-vessels andsteamin a slow steady stream. This action is continued until aseparation is completed and the liberated fatty acids float in a body onthe top. This fatty body, which is thus obtained and which floats on thetop, is now removed into ironbound wooden vessels, and spirits ofturpentine, camphene, or burning fluid added, in a suitable quantity,therewith. This fatty body or fatty acids is then run into pans, to formsuitable cakes or blocks for pressing. This completes the second degree,and forms the second product in my process of manufacture. After thesecakes or blocks are four or five days of age, they are put into thepresses and subjected'to a gradual pressure from eight to ten hours.This pressing separates the oleic-acid oil from the stearic acid andcompletes the third degree in my process and 7 produces a thirdproductviz., stearic acid. This oleic-acid oil, which is also producedat this stage of the process, is not used in the candle. The stearicacid thus produced is now melted into clean wooden vessels by opensteam-pipes and heated to about 160 or 170 Fahrenheit and washed in weakacid-water by agitation. It is then left to repose until the temperaturesinks to about 140 or 150 Fahrenheit. Then, for the purpose of settlingthe same clear, I use a small quantity of alcohol, (say about half percent, by weight,) by sprinkling the same over the surface slowly untilit is thoroughly settled. This purifies the stearic acid and renders itclear, and completesthe fourth degree in my process, and produces afifth product or'pure stearic acid, of which the candle is made. Thestearic acid thus produced and treated is now ready to be molded intocandles by any of the well- I known methods.

I am aware that soluble soap for washing and cleansing purposes is wel1known and has long been used; therefore I do not claim its manufacture,application, and use for any such purpose. I am also aware thatinsoluble lime soap has heretofore, been used in the manufacture ofcandles; therefore I do not claim its manufacture, application, or usefor such purpose.

I claim- 1. The employment of soluble soap as a base upon which to workmy process for converting the same into stearic-acid candles,substantially as herein set forth.

2. The application and use of the sulphate of soda and its equivalentcorresponding salts in admixture with soluable soap before a decomposition or change of the soluble soap into fatty acids, for thepurpose, and substantially as herein set forth.

3. The application and use of dilute sulphuric acid, or its equivalent,in admixture with soluble or deturgent soap, for the purpose ofdecomposing or changing the soluble soap into fatty acids, substantiallyas herein set forth.

4. The use of spirits of turpentine, camphene, or burning fluid inadmixture with the fatty acids while in the liquid state before andpreparatory to the expression of the oleicacid oil therefrom bypressure, substantially as herein described.

MORGAN XV. BROWVN. Witnesses:

E. B. FoRBUsH,

HENRY A. FOSTER.

